Zinc plating is intended as a general purpose protective finish on iron and steel parts. Depending on requirements and for general purpose use, zinc deposit is from 8 to 25 microns in thickness.

Plated parts are usually bright in appearance and can be passivated in either a bright blue pass which produces a clear blue coating enhancing the appearance of the zinc plating, or a coloured passivate which produces an iridescent yellow/green with patches of red in appearance.